San Francisco County
Biographies
EDWARD
MICHAEL LEONARD
Member of one of California’s most representative pioneer families and notably successful in the practice of law is Edward Michael Leonard, Whose offices are situated in the Mills building in the city of San Francisco. He was born at Leonard Station, Santa Cruz county, California, November 11, 1873, and is a son of the late Thomas W. and Catherine Mary (Walsh) Leonard.
Thomas W. Leonard, with his two brothers, James and Michael, crossed the western plains from the east in the early ‘60s, and settled in Santa Cruz county. His fiancee came to California by the Isthmus of Panama route, and they were married in Santa Cruz. Mr. Leonard took up a Spanish land grant which was known as the San Andreas Ranch; this was before the railroad had been built through. He later became well known as one of the largest landowners of this vicinity. His long and useful life ended on November 11, 1926, when he was in his eighty-seventh year. Leonard Station in Santa Cruz county was named in his honor. By his marriage to Catherine M. Walsh, he was the father of four sons and three daughters.
Edward M. Leonard has had very thorough educational preparation for the profession in which he is engaged. He received the Bachelor of Arts degree from Santa Clara College in 1900; the Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University in 1903; and the Bachelor of Laws degree from Hastings Law College in the year 1909. In the same year he received his diploma, he began the active practice of law in San Francisco, and during his career here he has held a number of positions which indicate unquestionably his ability and reputation as a member of the local bar. He was United States attorney for the northern district of California from 1920 until 1922, and in the latter year was appointed prosecutor in the juvenile court of San Francisco, having acted in that capacity to the present time. He is also, in addition to his practice, serving as an instructor in the law department of the University of San Francisco.
During the period of the United States’ participation in the World war, Mr. Leonard served overseas with the Knights of Columbus and was attached to the Three Hundred and Sixty-third United States Infantry. He was with this unit in three major engagements--St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne, and Lys-Scheldt, and was commended for his efficient service by Major-General Johnson. After the close of hostilities, he resumed his practice in San Francisco and has so continued, with marked success, ever since.
In politics, Mr. Leonard gives his support to the democratic party. He is a communicant of the Roman Catholic Church, and a member of the Knights of Columbus. He likewise belongs to the San Francisco Young Men’s Institute. Intensely loyal to the civic interests of his residence city, he has won the respect and admiration of his fellowmen, and among his contemporaries in the legal fraternity he is known as one who observes carefully the ethics of his profession.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Source: Byington, Lewis Francis, “History of
San Francisco 3 Vols”, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co.,
Chicago, 1931. Vol. 2 Pages 419-420.
© 2007 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
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